11/11/2002:
we had another boring staff meeting. completely useless. not even humorous this time. our administration, it seems to me, is as much at fault as we teachers are for the deplorable state of the school. and Auntie takes the brunt of that blame. she's got to go! i'm convinced of that. my talk with my APCD reaffirmed it. i don't know what to say about the VP, DS and the Bursar.
we have nothing at that school that indicates it even is one. a functional one, at least. at 3:30pm one could pass through our "campus" (3 or 4 rooms and as many offices) and think the place has been empty for months. it's a shame.
i asked the DS and SG [dean of students and secretary general] for tape this morning. not "can i use your tape?" but "do you have tape?" that being the only way to phrase such inquiries at our school, if they're to be phrased at all.
they both, of course, said no.
i shook my head in affirmation. of course you don't have tape. "how about gum [glue]?"
ummm... "no."
right, of course not.
then we all exchanged glances and chuckled. of course.
we all laughed. them a little embarrassed, i think. me... well, i just laughed. not really at them. but maybe just a little. in pity. but mostly i laughed because... well, what's one to do in that situation? laugh or cry. take your pick.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
we just put the rain gauge up
10/26/2002:
yeah... on that front. Maggie and i were contemplating the trek (Nkambe-Wum) as early as next week. before Ramadan. but i check say i no go walka [pidgin: i think i'm not going]. i'm afraid (and i know she's disappointed... a little) that i'm backing out. school commitments. i go shiddown fine for dis side [pidgin: i'm going to settle down here].
i've got books to mark before i go out to GHS [Govt High School] again to do GLOBE measurements. BTW, it stopped raining yesterday. well, at least it didn't rain for a day. the irony... we just put the rain gauge up.
- string for magnet
- ice-water
- pH timer (20 secs)
- beaker
- significant digits: 0.0 or 0.00?
yeah... on that front. Maggie and i were contemplating the trek (Nkambe-Wum) as early as next week. before Ramadan. but i check say i no go walka [pidgin: i think i'm not going]. i'm afraid (and i know she's disappointed... a little) that i'm backing out. school commitments. i go shiddown fine for dis side [pidgin: i'm going to settle down here].
i've got books to mark before i go out to GHS [Govt High School] again to do GLOBE measurements. BTW, it stopped raining yesterday. well, at least it didn't rain for a day. the irony... we just put the rain gauge up.
Friday, August 20, 2010
oh what a staff meeting!
10/10/2002:
Questions on Sustainability Article: Year 3
Newsweek - September 2, 2002, p. 39-41
we didn't start too late. more-or-less on time, actually. good turn out. the VP stayed in his office and only left 1/2 way through. after the hard rain that kept us from hearing everything clearly subsided. we laughed in the meeting... we laughed to keep from crying.
Menget went off at the DS. who asked a stupid question about why Menget criticized people's presentations at the seminar. he should've known better. Menget blew his lid! then came Kum. who decided he'd comment on the Teacher's Day he didn't even attend.
as soon as Mr. Nshu and i began to object, Kum went off. you know how Kum can be... we (GTTC teachers), principals (including Auntie) and even the DO got "thrashed." we just laughed... at both Menget and Kum, and the DS and Auntie.
funniest thing is that while all of us were either busy laughing or trying to shut them up and sit them down, there was Mr. Muzih writing away – quite seriously – at the minutes! trying hard to keep up with the violent pace of the meeting. can't wait to hear those minutes read next month. i'll be the first to move to accept them. WHAT A RIOT!
anyway... i attempted to say something about the students always leaving before my afternoon classes. how teachers really need to come to class and lean on the students to stay through 3pm. Auntie interpreted that in her own way, of course. she told the SG never to leave before 3:05pm.
as if Mme. Nkwain could/should babysit 3 classes with no other teachers/staff around! just like a people in positions of authority here–cut you short and give an immediate answer, even when your grievance may not have immediate answers. "next!"
so i sat down without even finishing my comment. what's the use?... a year ago, i'm not sure what i would've done. don't think i could've stayed. grinned and bore it. now, i laugh. on vas faire comment? there's just a few months left.
but i'm not that fatalistic or disenchanted. just picking my battles. honestly, i think about what it is i can do. what problem i may be able to address and how i could address it. small and subtle. insha'Allah.
Questions on Sustainability Article: Year 3
Newsweek - September 2, 2002, p. 39-41
- What is sustainable development?
- What are the two (2) deadliest environmental problems?
- According to the article, what is truly needed to solve our environmental problems?
we didn't start too late. more-or-less on time, actually. good turn out. the VP stayed in his office and only left 1/2 way through. after the hard rain that kept us from hearing everything clearly subsided. we laughed in the meeting... we laughed to keep from crying.
Menget went off at the DS. who asked a stupid question about why Menget criticized people's presentations at the seminar. he should've known better. Menget blew his lid! then came Kum. who decided he'd comment on the Teacher's Day he didn't even attend.
as soon as Mr. Nshu and i began to object, Kum went off. you know how Kum can be... we (GTTC teachers), principals (including Auntie) and even the DO got "thrashed." we just laughed... at both Menget and Kum, and the DS and Auntie.
funniest thing is that while all of us were either busy laughing or trying to shut them up and sit them down, there was Mr. Muzih writing away – quite seriously – at the minutes! trying hard to keep up with the violent pace of the meeting. can't wait to hear those minutes read next month. i'll be the first to move to accept them. WHAT A RIOT!
anyway... i attempted to say something about the students always leaving before my afternoon classes. how teachers really need to come to class and lean on the students to stay through 3pm. Auntie interpreted that in her own way, of course. she told the SG never to leave before 3:05pm.
as if Mme. Nkwain could/should babysit 3 classes with no other teachers/staff around! just like a people in positions of authority here–cut you short and give an immediate answer, even when your grievance may not have immediate answers. "next!"
so i sat down without even finishing my comment. what's the use?... a year ago, i'm not sure what i would've done. don't think i could've stayed. grinned and bore it. now, i laugh. on vas faire comment? there's just a few months left.
but i'm not that fatalistic or disenchanted. just picking my battles. honestly, i think about what it is i can do. what problem i may be able to address and how i could address it. small and subtle. insha'Allah.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
teaching lows
10/6/2002:
Scientific Method
Year 3 AppSci
Objectives: By lesson end, students will be able to...
Ecosystems
Biotic Interactions and Relationships
Year 2 EE
Objectives: by lesson end, students will be able to...
------------
...right. well, these 2 lessons didn't exactly go well. can't say they flopped, but they were less than stellar. to say the least! esp. the scientific method. need to work on that before 3B [the other half of Year 3] on Wed.
the Year 2 lesson above wasn't too bad. we had a good discussion. increasingly so in that class. could've streamlined the process. blackboard work, in particular. i want to move away from simply writing notes up there, but still... an organized blackboard = organized notebooks. and they need help on that, esp. with less dictation.
on my part, i need help on time management. entered both classes late. left late (no teachers around!). it's probably – no, for certain – a product of poor planning. need to outline the lesson "in advance..."
Scientific Method
Year 3 AppSci
Objectives: By lesson end, students will be able to...
- State the 5 steps of the scientific method
- Formulate an example study that follows the scientific method
- Evaluate the importance of the scientific method to scientific authority and our understanding of the world (this is vague?!)
Ecosystems
Biotic Interactions and Relationships
Year 2 EE
Objectives: by lesson end, students will be able to...
------------
...right. well, these 2 lessons didn't exactly go well. can't say they flopped, but they were less than stellar. to say the least! esp. the scientific method. need to work on that before 3B [the other half of Year 3] on Wed.
the Year 2 lesson above wasn't too bad. we had a good discussion. increasingly so in that class. could've streamlined the process. blackboard work, in particular. i want to move away from simply writing notes up there, but still... an organized blackboard = organized notebooks. and they need help on that, esp. with less dictation.
on my part, i need help on time management. entered both classes late. left late (no teachers around!). it's probably – no, for certain – a product of poor planning. need to outline the lesson "in advance..."
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Year 3 AppSci SOW
9/23/2002:
Year 3 Applied Science SOW:
(as worked out with 3A in class)
-Scientific Method
-Cells
-Protista/Monera
-Diseases ?
-Osmosis
-Food Preservation
-Plants (parts, photosynthesis, reproduction)
-Amphibians/Fish
-Reptiles/Birds
-Circulatory/Respiratory System
-Reproductive system and HIV/AIDS
Year 3 Applied Science SOW:
(as worked out with 3A in class)
-Scientific Method
-Cells
-Protista/Monera
-Diseases ?
-Osmosis
-Food Preservation
-Plants (parts, photosynthesis, reproduction)
-Amphibians/Fish
-Reptiles/Birds
-Circulatory/Respiratory System
-Reproductive system and HIV/AIDS
Saturday, July 17, 2010
scattered thoughts...
9/19/2002:
-kids still call Hamza's mother Mommy Petel... i miss that kid.
-animated preacher did entre maghrib/'isha talk... Arabic-Pidgin-French!
-i like the GTHS Principal, good man.
-Manjou seems to have run away [from school?]
-Ibrahim borrowed my helmet for a trip to Bamenda
-i need a non-lubricated condom
-after [my student] Charles won "honorable mention" for an essay on Abstinence, i gave him a condom... he pointed out the irony! :)
-Daouda [Hamza's father] needs to put Hamza in school, i need to talk to him
-1st week of effective classes went well... may they keep doing so, INSHA'ALLAH!
-my weekly schedule is sparse and spread out... early on Mondays and becoming gradually later as the week progresses.
-kids still call Hamza's mother Mommy Petel... i miss that kid.
-animated preacher did entre maghrib/'isha talk... Arabic-Pidgin-French!
-i like the GTHS Principal, good man.
-Manjou seems to have run away [from school?]
-Ibrahim borrowed my helmet for a trip to Bamenda
-i need a non-lubricated condom
-after [my student] Charles won "honorable mention" for an essay on Abstinence, i gave him a condom... he pointed out the irony! :)
-Daouda [Hamza's father] needs to put Hamza in school, i need to talk to him
-1st week of effective classes went well... may they keep doing so, INSHA'ALLAH!
-my weekly schedule is sparse and spread out... early on Mondays and becoming gradually later as the week progresses.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
(too much) to do
things to do on 9/19/2002:
GTTC [Govt Teacher Training College]
-Present HIV/AIDS Awards
(invite 5 winners to meeting Sat. 3:30pm)
-Announce EE Club meeting
(explain elections and GLOBE)
-Assign questions on EE article
(notebooks collected Friday by 9am)
-Record time-table!
GHS [Govt High School]
-DM: HIV/AIDS?, clearing garden plot.
-Chindong: Maggie and I meet w/him to discuss EE Club
-VP: Health Club? HIV/AIDS point-person?
GBSS [Govt Bilingual Secondary School]
-HIV/AIDS and/or EE?
GTHS [Govt Technical High School]
-HIV/AIDS and/or EE?
Medical Center: HIV/AIDS meeting
Alain: pay him for the GLOBE post, discuss mounting box
Maggie: EE Club and library (curriculum and scheduling) meeting
insha'Allah!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
school falling apart
9/16/2002:
tried to work-out the [EE and AppSci] SOWs last night. the [limited] number of classes i taught last year are alarming. but i've based the schemes on them anyway. at school right now... looking to enter the classroom and develop the schemes further with the students (esp. Year 3).
things are a little chaotic though – no, that's not accurate. less than orderly. no time-table. teachers entering classrooms as they please. so, i'll have to find a slot and slip in there myself, otherwise i'll be here until...
Paul and i discussed something i'll have to elaborate further on later... as the issue develops. the issue is our administration and, in turn, school. things are falling apart. and what are we to do?
tried to work-out the [EE and AppSci] SOWs last night. the [limited] number of classes i taught last year are alarming. but i've based the schemes on them anyway. at school right now... looking to enter the classroom and develop the schemes further with the students (esp. Year 3).
things are a little chaotic though – no, that's not accurate. less than orderly. no time-table. teachers entering classrooms as they please. so, i'll have to find a slot and slip in there myself, otherwise i'll be here until...
Paul and i discussed something i'll have to elaborate further on later... as the issue develops. the issue is our administration and, in turn, school. things are falling apart. and what are we to do?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
9/11 came and went
9/12/2002:
well, Sept. 11th came and went. didn't write anything in here. did write a long letter to Carrie, though. afraid i misplaced it somewhere??? staff room or the Galegas [Kenneth's]... will check tomorrow.
well, Sept. 11th came and went. didn't write anything in here. did write a long letter to Carrie, though. afraid i misplaced it somewhere??? staff room or the Galegas [Kenneth's]... will check tomorrow.
another blah (staff) meeting
9/12/2002: Staff Meeting
Calendar of Activities / Timetable to be finalized by Monday...
...yeah, another blah meeting. seems the VP is boycotting them. he may be boycotting work under Auntie totally. DS' [dean of students] chance, i guess. he's agreed to give Paul and i a slot on the timetable for our lecture. Wednesday October 23 or 30th? i forget. i hope the 30th. moms is coming on the 30th of this month and stay for 20 some days. God Bless Her Soul.
GLOBE will be off the ground shortly, insha'Allah. Alain, Maggie and i spoke to Mr. Nanji and scoped out a spot. students will meet me here [at the house] Saturday for an intro/prep meeting. video and all.
to do in school tomorrow:
-speak to DS about HIV/AIDS slot for seminar on Tues.
-look for my letter
-speak to GHS DM about Yo! poster.
-look up Margaret in the dictionary
Calendar of Activities / Timetable to be finalized by Monday...
...yeah, another blah meeting. seems the VP is boycotting them. he may be boycotting work under Auntie totally. DS' [dean of students] chance, i guess. he's agreed to give Paul and i a slot on the timetable for our lecture. Wednesday October 23 or 30th? i forget. i hope the 30th. moms is coming on the 30th of this month and stay for 20 some days. God Bless Her Soul.
GLOBE will be off the ground shortly, insha'Allah. Alain, Maggie and i spoke to Mr. Nanji and scoped out a spot. students will meet me here [at the house] Saturday for an intro/prep meeting. video and all.
to do in school tomorrow:
-speak to DS about HIV/AIDS slot for seminar on Tues.
-look for my letter
-speak to GHS DM about Yo! poster.
-look up Margaret in the dictionary
Saturday, July 10, 2010
sitting on his masbaha
9/10/2002:
Day 2 at school. just about a dozen students here. only 3 or 4 teachers. PPIs came and went... didn't even see Auntie. i did a little work with the few students that were there about HIV/AIDS. presented the poster ("Abstinence - Fidelity - Condom") and asked for entries on any/each. looking forward to doing more extra-curricular / outside-of-the-classroom activities. keeps both the students and i happy.
nice day today. especially the afternoon. Maggie passed by. we sat and talked on the veranda. about home and here. been missing DC recently... family and friends, too. of course. spoke to Rama and Tala earlier. unfortunately the call was cut off. got a card from Nunu here at the Wum post office. hoping to speak to mama and sort out her visit. sent her a letter today.
cute little story... was praying 'isha [evening prayers] at the mosque. not many people there. rain was threatening. this little man who i see in the market from time to time was praying to my right. between Uthman and i. the man was so short that it felt like there was a gap between the two of us.
finished prayer and no sooner had i turned to sallem [ending prayer with "salaam" to each side] to my left than the little man was tapping me repeatedly on my arm. thought he wanted to shake my hand. i was thinking "chill little man, chill." looked at him and he mumbled something. didn't hear. leaned over... he was pointing under my leg and said something about "tasbeeh."
i was sitting on his masbaha! [prayer beads]. so i lifted my leg and he grabbed the thing and started "sabih-ing" away. Uthman and i looked at each other and smiled. little big man.
Day 2 at school. just about a dozen students here. only 3 or 4 teachers. PPIs came and went... didn't even see Auntie. i did a little work with the few students that were there about HIV/AIDS. presented the poster ("Abstinence - Fidelity - Condom") and asked for entries on any/each. looking forward to doing more extra-curricular / outside-of-the-classroom activities. keeps both the students and i happy.
nice day today. especially the afternoon. Maggie passed by. we sat and talked on the veranda. about home and here. been missing DC recently... family and friends, too. of course. spoke to Rama and Tala earlier. unfortunately the call was cut off. got a card from Nunu here at the Wum post office. hoping to speak to mama and sort out her visit. sent her a letter today.
cute little story... was praying 'isha [evening prayers] at the mosque. not many people there. rain was threatening. this little man who i see in the market from time to time was praying to my right. between Uthman and i. the man was so short that it felt like there was a gap between the two of us.
finished prayer and no sooner had i turned to sallem [ending prayer with "salaam" to each side] to my left than the little man was tapping me repeatedly on my arm. thought he wanted to shake my hand. i was thinking "chill little man, chill." looked at him and he mumbled something. didn't hear. leaned over... he was pointing under my leg and said something about "tasbeeh."
i was sitting on his masbaha! [prayer beads]. so i lifted my leg and he grabbed the thing and started "sabih-ing" away. Uthman and i looked at each other and smiled. little big man.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
resumption of duty
9/5/2002:
donned my moto-helmet this morning. school year is upon us. riding up to the school as usual really reaffirms the fact that we'll soon start. i'm in the staff room now, as i write this. preparing for a "Preparatory Meeting."
Auntie will, for sure, say a few things about her still being here and REORGANIZING... we'll see. Paul and I will outline those workshops so they can work it into the Calendar of Activities. i'll leave the rest [of this entry] for notes/comments on notre reunion:
"I've been reaffirmed, now what do you people have to say?" -Auntie, revelling
stick to same old time-table [i.e. schedule of classes] until new one arrives
we have new Dept. Heads
NEW APPROACH:
-students and teachers (us and the primary school teachers) should become versed with it
-have students write lesson note [i.e. plans] for every subject in the new approach
term paper topics will be in academic subjects, though i need to come up with 3 or 4 ideas for environmental education
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
concerns
9/4/2002:
Mira finally got here. waiting, worrying all day. they left Babadjou at 11am, Bamenda at 11am and got here at 5:30pm. road is BAD. said she paid 2000cfa! says she'll be here for 4 days. ahhh... some concerns:
concerned about the road. it's really quite bad. Paul's father spend 16 hours on it yesterday. MUDDY MESS. 2000cfa.
concerned about the humidity. mold on my clothes. mold on the cane furniture. mold on the Maggi cubes. rocks for salt. wet laundry. basically the rainy season. i won't say i can't wait for the dry season... but i may be singing that song soon enough.
tomorrow we've got a staff meeting. concerned about the upcoming year. sooo much to do...
also concerned about how thin this paper is and how floppy the notebook!
concerned about how tired i am now... goodnight.
Monday, May 25, 2009
dr. babila
7/17/2002:
Dr. Babila
Upper 6th Mathematics
Lesson: Differentiation
...so i'm not even going to pretend that i understand the #'s and symbols being put up on the board here [in the santa model school]. will also not copy them in here. just keep them on the board. at a distance
Dr. Babila is working with minimal notes. in fact, he wrote them out this morning, b/w 7:45 and 8am. the man has a brain on him! masha'Allah.
what an interesting mind it must be. not just the powerful, logical, mathematical foundation but also what's built upon that... culture, spirituality, mythology, sociology, psychology, etc.
it makes me regret my math ignorance. would be nice to see the world that analytically or have a mind that thinks things through with logic that sharp/clear... or maybe not? and maybe he doesn't?
maybe the math isn't the foundation. just another aspect. maybe one of the other fields – any of them – are a foundation? maybe all? maybe none?
Dr. Babila just made a joke about something no longer being mathematic after a certain point but "Chinese"... LORD! all this might as well be Chinese.
Dr. Babila
Upper 6th Mathematics
Lesson: Differentiation
...so i'm not even going to pretend that i understand the #'s and symbols being put up on the board here [in the santa model school]. will also not copy them in here. just keep them on the board. at a distanceDr. Babila is working with minimal notes. in fact, he wrote them out this morning, b/w 7:45 and 8am. the man has a brain on him! masha'Allah.
what an interesting mind it must be. not just the powerful, logical, mathematical foundation but also what's built upon that... culture, spirituality, mythology, sociology, psychology, etc.
it makes me regret my math ignorance. would be nice to see the world that analytically or have a mind that thinks things through with logic that sharp/clear... or maybe not? and maybe he doesn't?
maybe the math isn't the foundation. just another aspect. maybe one of the other fields – any of them – are a foundation? maybe all? maybe none?
Dr. Babila just made a joke about something no longer being mathematic after a certain point but "Chinese"... LORD! all this might as well be Chinese.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
'old school'
7/1/2002:
i was thinking about school earlier today... found reflecting on what i did & didn't like insightful. i chose to take classes i enjoyed. that was good. the reading was stimulating/interesting/relevant and, sometimes, the various fields of study overlapped or reinforced each other. that was great.
i did not like the deadlines. the large classes. the burdensome loads. i'd rather have the time/effort to focus on 3-4 courses, in depth/breadth. to discuss with a professor and/or colleagues on the various topics. to have an advisor guide me, personally, through my studies.
i want to enjoy learning... not rush through requirements. or courses i'm totally uninterested in, with no relevancy to me. i suppose i'm interested in a more traditional education... "old school," if you will. now i know. you live and learn.
i was thinking about school earlier today... found reflecting on what i did & didn't like insightful. i chose to take classes i enjoyed. that was good. the reading was stimulating/interesting/relevant and, sometimes, the various fields of study overlapped or reinforced each other. that was great.
i did not like the deadlines. the large classes. the burdensome loads. i'd rather have the time/effort to focus on 3-4 courses, in depth/breadth. to discuss with a professor and/or colleagues on the various topics. to have an advisor guide me, personally, through my studies.
i want to enjoy learning... not rush through requirements. or courses i'm totally uninterested in, with no relevancy to me. i suppose i'm interested in a more traditional education... "old school," if you will. now i know. you live and learn.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
just a little, but a lot
6/5/2002:
in Bamenda... a few things to do here ($, email, Dr. and shave) before i leave for Douala. before too long, insha'Allah. came in late last night. finished marking exams around noon and filling my marks at school around 2pm. left teh house around 5pm. got in here @ 10:30pm.
yesterday, as i was leaving school (it had just rained... and has been raining hard in Wum) i found myself gently picking my way through the rivers of mud and down slippery paths. the rainy season is upon us. 1 year has passed.
i think back fondly of Babadjou. what comes to mind is that i perceive all this in different ways now. just a little... but a lot.
quick note on a moment of clarity... looking up at a poster here in Amity Bank and seeing the world "NOTRE" in french, i realized what Notre Dame [the cathedral & university] means. "Our Lady!" gotta love these moments of clarity.
in Bamenda... a few things to do here ($, email, Dr. and shave) before i leave for Douala. before too long, insha'Allah. came in late last night. finished marking exams around noon and filling my marks at school around 2pm. left teh house around 5pm. got in here @ 10:30pm.
yesterday, as i was leaving school (it had just rained... and has been raining hard in Wum) i found myself gently picking my way through the rivers of mud and down slippery paths. the rainy season is upon us. 1 year has passed.
i think back fondly of Babadjou. what comes to mind is that i perceive all this in different ways now. just a little... but a lot.
quick note on a moment of clarity... looking up at a poster here in Amity Bank and seeing the world "NOTRE" in french, i realized what Notre Dame [the cathedral & university] means. "Our Lady!" gotta love these moments of clarity.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
rappels que l'on fait la journee
6/1/2002:
back in Wum... i believe most of the rest of the crew (my stage) is in Limbe. mid-service Peace & Freedom. i'm here b/c i've still got these 3rd year tests to mark AND b/c we (my students and i) should be going out to Menchum Falls tomorrow, insha'Allah.
i took the overnight [bus] from Yaounde to Bamenda last night. watched Cameroon draw with Ireland, then rode up here... to find the house a little dirty, no electricity, most everything in the fridge spoiled and my plants dead.
there's also a note from the Dean of Students about having my marks in by 28 May! i have to get these marks in b/c i'm off to Mali by Tuesday night, insha'Allah. no Limbe this summer but also not too much quality time here at post, either. and the days keep "passing me by..."
last note: prayed jum'aa yesterday in the Grand Mosquee @ Tchinga, Yaounde. new imam there from Saudi. decent khutba [friday sermon]. the man's voice is beautiful. the muezzin's, as well. the mosque is so big... beautifully decorated. i was moved. happy.
back in Wum... i believe most of the rest of the crew (my stage) is in Limbe. mid-service Peace & Freedom. i'm here b/c i've still got these 3rd year tests to mark AND b/c we (my students and i) should be going out to Menchum Falls tomorrow, insha'Allah.
i took the overnight [bus] from Yaounde to Bamenda last night. watched Cameroon draw with Ireland, then rode up here... to find the house a little dirty, no electricity, most everything in the fridge spoiled and my plants dead.
there's also a note from the Dean of Students about having my marks in by 28 May! i have to get these marks in b/c i'm off to Mali by Tuesday night, insha'Allah. no Limbe this summer but also not too much quality time here at post, either. and the days keep "passing me by..."
last note: prayed jum'aa yesterday in the Grand Mosquee @ Tchinga, Yaounde. new imam there from Saudi. decent khutba [friday sermon]. the man's voice is beautiful. the muezzin's, as well. the mosque is so big... beautifully decorated. i was moved. happy.
Friday, April 10, 2009
grad school
5/22/2002:
Graduate School Info:
Yale: School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
MESC/MEM in:
-conservation science and policy
-ecosystem science and management
-social ecology and community development
-joint degree in international relations
emily.mcdiarmid@yale.edu, fesinfo@yale.edu
American University: School of International Service
-MA in international development
-MS in development management
-w/specializations in environmental policy
idpsis@american.edu
University of Arizona: ?
Graduate School Info:
Yale: School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
MESC/MEM in:
-conservation science and policy
-ecosystem science and management
-social ecology and community development
-joint degree in international relations
emily.mcdiarmid@yale.edu, fesinfo@yale.edu
American University: School of International Service
-MA in international development
-MS in development management
-w/specializations in environmental policy
University of Arizona: ?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
TDW Day 1
5/22/2002: TDW Day 1
...ton of handouts today. a lot of arguing about small points like how many HCN [host country national] teachers at model school and whether the trainees' cross-cultural presentations should be in French of English. the usual dynamics... or politics.
seems like i'll be helping with the EE session... gotta plan it.
Session Objectives: (Santa/Babadjou, 7/15/02 from 8am-12:30pm)
To create awareness of environmental issues present in Cameroon and to encourage integration into lesson plans and secondary projects.
- What is EE about in PC Cameroon?
- What does that mean for me... as a PCV, personally & professionally
- What EE activities can i do?
- Who/what can help?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
all apologies
also 5/18/2002:
something happened in the staff room yesterday. our VP [vice principal] was sitting there marking exams for 1st and 2nd Year students. turns out he gave them tests for all 3 of his subjects simultaneously! 3 questions (one per subject) up on the blackboard.
what's more, that may well have been the 1st time they'd seen him all term! and i thought i was bad. not good to have people like that to compare yourself to. needless to say, his ..students are across the courtyard complaining bitterly. whether it's about his marks or mine, i'm not sure. honestly, i wasn't listening... who cares?
turns out the VP does. he hears one of our students say something and calls for him... it's the 3rd student in less than an hour that he's done this to. asks him why he just cursed him. i didn't hear anything, though the student was definitely shouting in the classroom across the way.
i'm sitting there, with my ears plugged, trying to concentrate on recounting another student's marks... turns out the student the VP is berating leads him to believe (and i'm sure the VP needs little convincing) that i was the one he was talking about. cursing, that is.
so, in front of 4 or 5 students, the VP turns to me and asks why i let students curse me like that? that i should reprimand them. take their papers and give them zeros. i just looked at him, knowing that:
later that day... that very same student comes to the house, all distraught and apologetic. explaining how he was, in fact, talking about the VP the whole time but couldn't get himself to admit it. he said he couldn't rest and that his conscience was bothering him. that he didn't want to ruin our cordial relationship.
i assured him that he did nothing of the sort. that i'd barely given any of it another thought and that i had a feeling i wasn't the one he was cursing. this is all too funny! especially since we'd just finished with dinner and i was telling Paul and Maggie about the whole affair.
something happened in the staff room yesterday. our VP [vice principal] was sitting there marking exams for 1st and 2nd Year students. turns out he gave them tests for all 3 of his subjects simultaneously! 3 questions (one per subject) up on the blackboard.
what's more, that may well have been the 1st time they'd seen him all term! and i thought i was bad. not good to have people like that to compare yourself to. needless to say, his ..students are across the courtyard complaining bitterly. whether it's about his marks or mine, i'm not sure. honestly, i wasn't listening... who cares?
turns out the VP does. he hears one of our students say something and calls for him... it's the 3rd student in less than an hour that he's done this to. asks him why he just cursed him. i didn't hear anything, though the student was definitely shouting in the classroom across the way.
i'm sitting there, with my ears plugged, trying to concentrate on recounting another student's marks... turns out the student the VP is berating leads him to believe (and i'm sure the VP needs little convincing) that i was the one he was talking about. cursing, that is.
so, in front of 4 or 5 students, the VP turns to me and asks why i let students curse me like that? that i should reprimand them. take their papers and give them zeros. i just looked at him, knowing that:
- i didn't care if the student was cursing me. i didn't hear and wasn't as intent on listening as he seemed to be.
- the student was probably cursing him but, when confronted, decided it would be easier to say i was the one he was talking about.
later that day... that very same student comes to the house, all distraught and apologetic. explaining how he was, in fact, talking about the VP the whole time but couldn't get himself to admit it. he said he couldn't rest and that his conscience was bothering him. that he didn't want to ruin our cordial relationship.
i assured him that he did nothing of the sort. that i'd barely given any of it another thought and that i had a feeling i wasn't the one he was cursing. this is all too funny! especially since we'd just finished with dinner and i was telling Paul and Maggie about the whole affair.
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